VBT Community

The Amalfi Coast & Capri

Few places can rival the dramatic beauty of the Amalfi Coast and Capri, an enchanting region where walking trails like the iconic Path of the Gods give way to panoramic views of rugged mountains plunging into the Mediterranean Sea. Off the trail we’ll visit the ruins of Pompeii and visit scenic seaside towns like Positano and Ravello.

Book This Tour

Why You'll Love This Tour

Overview

The Amalfi Coast & Capri

In a country of extraordinary beauty, no landscape is more thrilling or serene than the Amalfi Coast, where towering limestone cliffs stand against an endless turquoise ocean and an endless azure sky. Pastel-washed villages are sculpted into hillsides. The air is filled with the scent of lemon groves. Cascading flower gardens spill their bounty at every turn. On VBT’s most popular walking vacation, together we’ll braid fresh mozzarella, explore the ruins of Pompeii, and walk paths that delight and inspire on the lush isle of Capri, the forested Lattari Mountains, and the breathtaking terraced perches of Ravello.

Cultural Highlights

Discover the world-renowned 2,000-year-old volcanic ruins of Pompeii in the company of a local expert.

Walk the forested Alta via dei Monti Lattari trail leading to thrilling, expansive views of the Gulf of Salerno.

Savor lunch at a family owned organic farm, where we’ll learn how to braid fresh mozzarella in a hands-on demonstration.

Amble among the spectacular villas and manicured gardens on the legendary isle of Capri.

Roam the dramatic terraces of Ravello, where artists have found inspiration for centuries.

Enjoy traditional Neapolitan dishes, including wood-fired pizza, and a breathtaking panorama at a family-run trattoria.

Learn the ancient craft of papermaking in Amalfi, whose exquisite paper has been prized since the Renaissance.

Trek the “Path of the Gods” in Agerola, where the vista includes the ocean home of the mythical Sirens.

Share a picnic lunch after a walk through a chestnut forest on our down a hillside trail to lovely Positano.

What to Expect

This tour features a combination of paved roads and easy terrain, mixed with moderate hills, uneven footpaths on downhill slopes, and cobbled steps. On rainy days the footpaths can be muddy and steps can be slippery. Our VBT support van is available at specific meeting points for those who need assistance. Both morning and afternoon walking options are available most days. Ideal for experienced walkers and enthusiastic beginners. Several of the walks require a transfer from our hotel to the start of the walk. Our tour leaders often use this time in the van for our morning route review, so we can enjoy a more leisurely morning at breakfast.

Air Package Plus Single Supplement: $795 | Land Only Single Supplement: $645

Please note: Web Special savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Standard Terms & Conditions apply when purchasing this trip. 2015 Prices include all airline surcharges and Government taxes and fees. Ask our Tour Consultants for details. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. Prices are based on preferences selected above, including meals and sightseeing as specified in What's Included. All prices are subject to change. Departure dates and prices shown may be updated several times daily, and apply to new bookings only.

Itinerary & Map

Or, Expand All Days

DAY 1: Depart from home / Fly overnight to Naples

Depart from home for Naples, Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

DAY 2: Arrive in Naples

Arrive at the Capodichino Airport in Naples, Italy, where a VBT representative meets you and helps you transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to your Naples hotel. The rest of the day is free to discover and dine on your own, using the VBT City Information as your guide.

If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please let our driver know by calling or sending a text message to +39 340 9525525. You may also contact our One Call travel assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service. Our drivers are only able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.

Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 1:00 pm, in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in earlier than the scheduled program dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.

You have the rest of the day free to discover this fascinating city on your own. Perhaps you'll explore one of its many museums, or to stroll through the picturesque Borgo Marinaro neighborhood, located just across from our hotel. Tonight, dine on your own in one of the cozy restaurants nearby.

VBT No-Air Package guests: Meet your VBT Trip Leaders at 9:00 am in the lobby of the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia (Via Partenope 46; Tel: +39 0817640666); they will be wearing VBT staff garments. Transfer to the hotel is on your own. Please come to the meeting dressed in your walking gear and carrying your backpack. A taxi from the railway station costs about 12-15 euros/$20 USD. If your arrival at the hotel is scheduled for later than 9:00 am, or if you are delayed, please contact the hotel, and the hotel staff will pass your message along to our VBT Trip Leaders. VBT highly recommends flying to Italy at least one day before the tour begins; this allows you to rest and recover from jet lag before you begin sightseeing and walking. If you are delayed past our 9:40 am departure time, please transfer directly to our Sorrento hotel. However, you will miss the visit of Pompeii.

VBT Air Package and Pre-trip Extension guests: Meet your VBT Trip Leaders at 9:00 am in the main lobby; they will be wearing VBT staff garments. Please come to the meeting dressed in your walking gear and carrying your backpack.

After an orientation and safety briefing led by our Trip Leaders, we board a private motorcoach and transfer to Pompeii. Upon arrival, we meet a local expert for a guided tour of the site. At dawn on August 25, 79 AD, the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius caused the total destruction of Pompeii. In just a few moments, all the residents of Pompeii perished doing whatever they could to survive. Tremendous amounts of ash and cinder covered and preserved the scene exactly as it was at that instant. That's why, today, we know exactly how Romans lived 2,000 years ago. Our guide will tell us, for example, that posters were used to advertise elections and support party candidates, and that the word “candidate” comes from candid, the name of a special tunic worn by those running for office to prove they had no criminal record. Lunch is on your own in Pompeii.

Later in the afternoon, we shuttle to our hotel in Sorrento and settle in. Tonight we enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner at our hotel.

Today we drive to Sant'Agata dei Due Golfi to explore the Sorrento Peninsula. We follow the red-and-white markings of the Alta via dei Monti Lattari trail, a path that winds upwards into a beautiful chestnut forest. As the woods open up, masses of multicolored, aromatic flowers are on display. Right before the promontory of Malacoccola, the view of the entire Gulf of Salerno opens before us. We continue to Torca, where a short shuttle takes us to our lunch stop, a family-owned organic farm where we'll also learn how to braid mozzarella during a hands-on demonstration. Later, choose to return to Sorrento on foot or by shuttle, taking in more views of the gulf from above. In Sorrento, enjoy free time to shop, explore the town, or relax at our hotel's swimming pool and private pier.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Perhaps you'll try Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, made with a Bolognese sauce and fiordilatte (local mozzarella), at a nearby restaurant.

Hotel: Grand Hotel CocumellaAlternate Hotel: Grand Hotel La FavoritaMeals: B, LDaily Options: Morning: Morning: 4.4 miles on a dirt path with some rocks, ascending on the first mile, followed by a flat, then long downhill on steps. Easier option: 3.3 miles on gently a gently ascending dirt path. Afternoon option: 3 miles downhill with many steps.

DAY 5: Ferry to Capri

Early this morning, we walk to the Sorrento harbor, taking a moment to drink in panoramic views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. We then board a hydrofoil to ferry across the Sorrento Peninsula to the celebrated island of Capri.

Arriving at the famous piazzetta, the hub of the island, we start along an easy walking path leading to Villa Jovis. As we stroll, our senses will be enchanted by the aroma of jasmine and the views of manicured gardens full of flowers. We'll explore Villa Jovis, built by Emperor Tiberius in the third century as a strategic point where he could dominate and control the opposite coast. We enjoy incredible views from here. The Jump of Tiberius—a sheer cliff soaring more than 1,100 feet—is the infamous site from which Tiberius had his enemies thrown into the sea.

We continue walking through a thick Mediterranean park where strawberry trees, myrtle, clematis, honeysuckle, laurel, wild asparagus and cyclamen thrive. After passing by Villa Lysis, built by an eccentric French count in 1905, you can choose to explore Capri's inviting shops and cafés, or continue to Arco Naturale and Grotta di Matermania, a natural cove used to honor Cybele, the Magna Mater, or Great Mother, of the gods. It is located down a long flight of stairs and in a thick forest. This is also an ideal time to stop for lunch on your own in one of the island cozy restaurants or to picnic in the shade of a garden overlooking the azure sea.

After regrouping, our walk continues to the eastern rim of the island, we see the amazing and famous Faraglioni cliffs, three rocky colossi protruding from the sea. Then, we continue to the Augustus Gardens, where the views of the cliffs and the curled Via Krupp are gorgeous. Our trail ends at Capri's shopping district. From here, we loop back to the piazzetta, where we began our walk.

You'll have some time to discover the fascinating area around the piazzetta before we return via hydrofoil to the mainland—and our next destination, the town of Amalfi. En route, we take in the panoramic vistas of the Amalfi Coast from the sea. In Amalfi, a short shuttle brings us to our hotel in Ravello, where we settle in and dine in the on-site restaurant, savoring scenic views of the surrounding area along with our meal.

After breakfast, we roam the terraces of Ravello with our Trip Leaders, beginning in the peaceful pedestrian-only center. Admire the white-faced Duomo in Piazza Vescovado and the Arabic-Norman towers of Villa Rufolo, where German composer Richard Wagner was inspired to create music for the scene in Klingsor's magic garden in his opera Parsifal.

Later, continue exploring Ravello on your own. Perhaps you'll visit Villa Cimbrone and its beautiful gardens. Or join our Trip Leaders for a walk to Scala and Pontone. For lunch, we savor traditional Neapolitan dishes—including pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven—and breathtaking views at a family-run trattoria. Then, we trace vineyard-laden terraces to the Valley of the Ferriere, a magnificent nature reserve in the Valley of the Mills.

As we proceed along a trail covered in moss and ferns, our Trip Leaders show us calcara, large pits where lime was made by burning huge blocks of limestone for days. We'll also see the spandituri, or paper-hangers, buildings now in ruins but once used to dry paper. As we reach Amalfi, we stop at the Museo della Carta, a unique museum housed in an ancient paper mill, where we learn how paper was made from rags. During the 15th century, Amalfi's paper was so prized that many foreign authors demanded to be published in Naples just so they could use the coveted material. You can buy some of this exquisite handmade paper in the museum's gift shop, if you like.

In Amalfi, enjoy time at leisure to visit the beautiful Duomo and stroll along the charming side streets. You might also sit down at sidewalk café to enjoy a delizia al limone—a confection made from limoncello-soaked sponge cake and lemon custard—or a slice of pastiera, a cake made with ricotta cheese and ground wheat that's been soaked for several days in running water.

Back in Ravello, you have time to relax by the scenic swimming pool of our elegant hotel.
Dinner is on your own tonight.

Please note: Ravello is well known for its classical music festivals. For assistance with booking tickets, contact the reception desk.

Today we shuttle to Agerola, Italy's dairy capital, where we gradually descend on foot along a scenic stretch between Biscotto Caves and Nocelle known as the “Path of the Gods” for its heavenly views. The path is well marked and offers views of Capri and the islets of Li Galli, or Sirenuse, where the mythical Sirens attracted seafarers with their melodious songs. At Colle Serra, we cross the pass and continue down to Nocelle where, after lunch on your own, our paths divide: You can shuttle by van or continue walking to Montepertuso, where, according to legend, the Madonna was challenged by the devil to punch a hole in a towering mountain (pertuso means “hole” in Neapolitan dialect). The views from here are simply amazing.

From Montepertuso, we shuttle to our next destination, Positano, built as a nativity scene set on the side of a mountain. From the balcony of our rooms, we'll breathe in the heady aromas of the garden's vibrant flowers and gaze at the colorful, majolica-tiled cupola of nearby Santa Maria Assunta Church.

Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Relax by the hotel swimming pool or at the sandy beach just a few steps from our hotel. You might also stroll through the town's narrow streets, filled with art galleries and boutiques. The clothing industry in Positano was so popular and influential in the 1970s that the style they created became popularly known as “Positano Style.” In addition to clothing, you can find handmade ceramics, jewelry, leather footwear and paintings by the many artists who have been inspired by the beauty of the region.

After an orientation walk with our Trip Leaders through Positano's labyrinthine hillside streets, choose from among many fine local restaurants for dinner on your own tonight.

This morning, we shuttle up 2,000 feet to the town of Santa Maria del Castello, where many hillside trails converge from the surrounding Lattari Mountains. We'll walk through a chestnut forest before stopping for a picnic lunch along the way, then continue our descent to Positano, delighting in spectacular views of the turquoise waters and the rugged, serpentine coast. This is one of our shortest walks, so take your time – linger at the overlooks and savor the aromas of rosemary and valerian growing wild on the hillsides.

After returning to Positano, enjoy time at leisure to browse its art studios, rest your legs with a beachside nap, or join our Trip Leaders for a short jaunt. Tonight we feast on gourmet specialties during a festive farewell dinner.

VBT Air Package guests: You arrive at our Rome hotel at approximately 1:00 pm and have the rest of the day at leisure. Upon arrival, our VBT representative will answer your questions and offer an optional evening city walk that will help you make the most of the city. VBT provides City Information that includes recommendations about what to see and do during your stay.

If you have chosen the independent Post-trip Extension to Rome, you'll remain at this hotel for a total of three nights.

Hotel: Hotel Giulio CesareMeals: B

DAY 10: Depart for home or begin optional Rome extension

After breakfast* this morning, transfer to the Rome airport (approximately 40 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.** Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the reception desk to verify the times when breakfast is served.

**VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Meals: B

Download Itinerary PDF

Grand Hotel Cocumella

The oldest hotel on the Sorrento Peninsula, the Grand Hotel Cocumella was built in 1637 as a Jesuit residence, becoming an inn 140 years later. Its elegant rooms, antique furnishings, and exceptional views of the sea and grounds have attracted such visitors as Goethe, Mary Shelley, and Freud. Set in a century-old park overlooking the sea, the hotel features a swimming pool, along with a private pier and sun terrace, so you may swim in the sea. There is also a fully equipped gym and spa. Scintilla, an open-air garden restaurant, features local specialties, while Coku offers a fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine.

Hotel Villa Franca

Villa Franca enjoys a privileged position: located in the city center of Positano, on a hill overlooking the entire bay. The interior is finely furnished, and all the common areas feature wide windows, letting sunlight inside, and offering sublime, sweeping views of the unique landscape of Positano. The hotel features a swimming pool with bar, restaurant, sun terrace and wellness center.

Grand Hotel La Favorita

Grand Hotel La Favorita is a newly built hotel, located right in the heart of Sorrento. It features modern facilities, yet the style of the hotel is elegantly classic. The orange garden hosts breakfast from spring to fall, the roof terrace has a bar, and a sunny swimming pool and whirlpool are available for relaxation.

Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

This elegant Naples hotel is located in the city center, facing the marina. From the balconies and terraces, you'll have panoramic views of Mt. Vesuvius and the entire Bay of Naples, of Capri and Ischia, and the nearby, majestic Castel dell'Ovo. Across the street is the ancient Borgo Marinaro fishing village, adorned with small yachts and fishing boats, perfect for strolls and for sampling seafood and pizza.
All rooms are equipped with modem jacks for connecting to the Internet. Plus, in the ground floor lobby, an ADSL Internet point is available.

Palazzo Murat

Palazzo Murat is a historic 17th-century palace in the style of the Neapolitan Baroque school of architect Vanvitelli. It has been thoughtfully renovated to offer comfortable, luxurious hospitality. Surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden, its location is ideal to discover, the pedestrian area of town.

Villa Fraulo

Only a few steps from Piazza Vescovado and Cathedral Square, this charming property is an elegant and sophisticated microcosm, perched above the endless sea of the Amalfi Coast. Once the residence of the noble family Cortese, Villa Fraulo today offers a relaxing spa and a spectacular infinity pool surrounded by a terrace.

Hotel Giulio Cesare

The Giulio Cesare is a family-run hotel in Rome, quietly located a few steps from the Tiber River and a 10-minute walk from Piazza Del Popolo. Once a patrician villa, this hotel has been recently redecorated in an elegant, classical style. You’ll enjoy the garden, where breakfast is served, and a quiet lounge with an antique fireplace. These and other touches keep this 4-star hotel feeling very much like a family home. Breakfast is said to be one of the best in Rome, because many of the products are grown by the owner in his fields north of the city. Internet is available for guests at the reception desk and a free WiFi connection is available throughout.

Hotel Le Agavi

Hotel Le Agavi occupies a dream location on the Amalfi Coast, overlooking Positano's beautiful Fornillo bay. A stunning 5-star establishment, Hotel Le Agavi was constructed on a series of cliff-edge terraces, using the local stone, so as to be in total harmony with the surrounding land and seascapes.
Romantic coastal retreats equipped with every modern comfort, each of Hotel Le Agavi's individually decorated bedrooms and suites has its own balcony or terrace from where a magnificent view of the sea can be seen.

Amalfi Coast Photo Gallery

Reviews

Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With LOw-Cost Trip Extensions

Pre-Trip Extension - Naples

2 nights for only $345

Two nights at Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

Daily breakfast

City Information

Airport transfers

Naples, founded by the Greeks on one of the most scenic corners of Southern Italy, is postcard perfect, located between Vesuvius and the Gulf. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, the historical center is preserved for its noble palaces, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Naples was the capital of the biggest kingdom in southern Italy for 600 years, and still retains the splendor of those times. Sampling great food is a must in Naples, where you can find great pizza or pasta. Discover its famous pastry while enjoying a café in Via Toledo or Via Chiaia, the most charming streets in the center. Our lodging, the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia, is a historical building with neoclassical furniture and a romantic atmosphere. Located right on the seafront facing Castel dell’Ovo and close to the Real Palace, it’s the perfect spot to discover this city of traditions, art and warm hospitality.

Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Single supplement: $245

DAY 1: Depart from home / Fly overnight to Naples

Depart from home for Naples, Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

DAY 2: Arrive Naples / Begin your Trip Extension

Arrive at the Capodichino Airport in Naples, Italy, where a VBT representative meets you and helps you transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to our Naples hotel. At the hotel, our VBT representative will be available at 6:00 p.m. to answer your questions and help you organize your time in Naples. Please make sure to arrive promptly at this time since optional activities, like a city walk, will also be discussed to help you make the most of the city. The activities will begin the next day and the cost will be shared among the number of participants. The rest of the day is free to discover and dine on your own. The area is full of wonderful options for dinner.

If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please let our driver know by calling or sending a text message to +39 340 9525525. You may also contact our One Call travel assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service. Our drivers are only able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.

Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 1:00 pm, in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in earlier than the scheduled program dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

DAY 3: Independent exploration of Naples

Continue to explore Naples on your own.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Santa LuciaMeals: B

DAY 4: Independent exploration of Naples / Join VBT Air Package Gusts

Continue your exploration of Naples at leisure.

VBT Air Package guests arrive throughout the day.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Santa LuciaMeals: B

Post-Trip Extension - Rome

2 nights for only $295

Two nights at Hotel Giulio Cesare

Daily breakfast

City Information

Airport transfers

Discover the Eternal City at your leisure as you spend two nights in Italy’s timeless capital. History, art and architecture abound, from Greek sculpture to Roman ruins.

Marvel at the grandeur of the Vatican, where St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel await. Stroll through the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum. Take time to walk up the Spanish Steps, toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome, or just spend a relaxing afternoon at a quiet outdoor café. Many attractions are within walking distance of your centrally located hotel.

Only available with the Air Inclusive Package.

Single supplement: $245

DAY 1: Begin your optional extension

Spend the day exploring the “Eternal City.” You can step out of Italy while you're still in Rome with a visit to the Vatican, an independent state. The Vatican Museums are filled with magnificent art that goes far beyond such well-known pieces as Michelangelo's Pieta and the Sistine Chapel ceiling. An optional guided tour can be booked through your local VBT Representative.

DAY 2: Independent exploration of Rome

Today's opportunities are endless. You might visit the Forum, the political and commercial center of ancient Rome when the empire was at the height of its power. Various emperors constructed the temples, monuments and other structures here over a period of nine centuries. Today you can still see the Curia, where the Roman Senate met.

Or walk up the Palatine Hill, where tradition says the first settlers of Rome built their huts, and which was later the home of emperors Caligula, Nero, Tiberius and Domitian. Tour Rome's famous Catacombs, located in tunnels carved out of rock along the Via Appia Antica, or Appian Way.” Or spend an idyllic afternoon in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, one of Europe's most elegant parks. And by all means, do as the Romans do—sip espresso, savor Italian wine, and take the time to enjoy la dolce vita. After a full day of independent exploration, retire to your hotel or enjoy dinner in one of Rome's many fine restaurants.

Hotel: Hotel Giulio CesareMeals: B

DAY 3: Depart for home

After breakfast* this morning, transfer to the Rome airport (approximately 40 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.** Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the reception desk to verify the times when breakfast is served.

**VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Meals: B

Get The Most Value With VBT

Travel Protection Plan

VBT takes pride in making sure every step is taken to ensure your perfect vacation, but unexpected events can arise.

Air Advantage

Secure, easy, pay at your own pace...
VBT is committed to providing unsurpassed value to our travelers, including airfare. Fly aboard world-class airlines, enjoy extended stays, and even choose your departure times and routes with Customized Air and save even more on your vacation.

Good Buy Plan

Save even more...
Reserve early, lock in your low cost and save! Your dream vacation is within your reach when you take advantage of our discounts for paying in advance. The earlier you pay, the better you save.

Talk To AVBT Tour Consultant

Related Tours You Might Be Interested In

France: Slow Road through Provence

From only $4,295
The natural splendor of Provence proved endlessly inspiring for Cezanne and van Gogh—and will surely stir our senses too. Join us to stroll through fragrant fields in the foothills of the Alpilles mountains and along ancient streets in picturesque villages like Les Baux and St. Remy.

Walking the Italian Lakes

From only $3,995
Stroll the scenic shores of Italy’s Lake District including Como, Maggiore and Orta and explore their opulent Renaissance villas. Along the way we’ll pause to savor the acclaimed wines and cuisine of Piedmont and Lombardy.

Italy: The Quiet Pathways of Tuscany

From only $3,895
Experience the legendary landscapes of Tuscany on foot as well as sample the region’s celebrated wines and savor fresh, flavorful Tuscan cuisine while staying in converted monasteries in Pienza and Siena, two Tuscan jewels.